June 8, 2009
This summer, GoTerriers.com is counting down the top 12 achievements of Boston University teams and student-athletes in 2008-09, one of the greatest years ever for Terrier athletics. Check back each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we reveal this year's Terrier Twelve.
Coming in at No. 12 on the Terrier Twelve is sophomore Matt Rickett's record-breaking swim at the America East Swimming and Diving Championships, highlighting an impressive 2008-09 campaign from the men's team where it finished second at the conference championships and went a perfect 10-0 in dual meets. Rickett's time in the 100 fly (46.43) broke his own school record and qualified him for the NCAA championships - the first BU male swimmer to qualify in 27 years.
Rickett, the 2009 AE Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet, went on to place 47th in the 100 fly at the NCAA championships in College Station, Texas. His time from the AE championships stood as the 27th fastest time in the country in 2008-09.
Senior Andre Watson also appeared in his first NCAA championship, placing 31st on both the one- and three-meter boards, respectively.
Rickett's swim was one of many highlights from the men's impressive 2008-09 season, as it broke 10 individual school records and all five relay records. The Terriers' unblemished dual meet record included notable wins over cross-town rival Boston College as well as Big East foe Syracuse.
On Friday, Feb. 19, BU opened the America East Championships with three school records - the 800 free relay, 200 medley relay and senior Andre Watson's 1M dive. Sophomore Bryon Kallert and freshman Jackson Hill bookended the thrilling weekend by breaking two records that were both over two decades old. Kallert reset the 200 fly mark, which had stood for 21 years, clocking in at 1:51.28, while Hill broke one of the oldest records on the books with a winning time of 44.18 in the 100 free. That time bested Sean Nottage's record from 1986 by over a second. Kallert later on broke a school and conference record in the 200 back (1:48.75).
A Letter from Athletic Director Mike Lynch
